In this week’s big fight, unbeaten WBO featherweight champion Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (24-0, 20 KOs), who recently inked a multi-fight co-promotional agreement with Top Rank, will make the first defense of his world title against WBO #2 rated countryman Sergio Chirino (22-1, 13 KOs) on Friday inside the BleauLive Theater at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
The 6’1 Espinoza is the tallest world champion in featherweight history. He earned the WBO title with a stunning upset over Robeisy Ramirez last December. Espinoza canme off the canvas to rally late and drop Ramirez in the twelfth, nearly stopping him before the final bell.
The co-feature pits unbeaten junior lightweight Andres “Savage” Cortes (21-0, 12 KOs) against Abraham “El Super” Nova (23-2, 16 KOs) in a ten-rounder. The entire card will be streamed on ESPN+.
Big fight? Hardly. Chirino has a padded record and is not a deserving opponent for Espinoza.
The same case could have been made about Espinoza going into the Ramirez fight.
This is true, Lucie. I guess my point is that these featherweight belt holders should be fighting each other. I guess Inoue will have to beat four guys to become undisputed when he eventually moves up.
Well now, there, we definitely agree.